Step-by-Step DIY Projects

Bring a little DIY style to your home's decor with any (or all!) of these nine projects, all with step-by-step instructions. Plus, there's nothing difficult here: every single project employs easy-to-find supplies and straightforward techniques you can use again and again.

Fabric Rosettes: Step 1

Note: We used 4-1/2-inch wide strips of fabric. Cut fabric strips into 12 inch lengths. Sew a 1/2 inch hem on one long side and sew a 1/2 inch hem on each of the short sides. Then hand-sew a loose running stitch along the raw edge (pictured).

Stenciled Pillow: Step 2

Place the pillow cover on flat surface. (If you are concerned about the marker bleeding through to the other side, place an old magazine inside the cover.) Position template on top of cover as desired, and trace around the template with a fabric marker. Remove the template and fill in body with marker. (If you're using our butterfly template, freehand draw the antennae.)

Wall Frames

Bring something a little different to your wall art with a mural-like background for plates, canvases, and more. Freehand-draw frames around objects, or try this technique that we used for the round white plate in this display. You will need:

Wall Frames: Step 3

Wall Frames: Step 4

Pencil another frame inside the existing one; mark over the pencil outline with the black Sharpie. Paint a wooden plate white; let dry. Draw a herringbone stripe on the plate with a metallic silver fine-point Sharpie, and mount it inside the wall frame using a sawtooth hanger.

Personalized Vase: Step 1

If you're using a drawing or piece of child's art, scan the drawing into an image-editing program, then scale to desired size. Print the art onto ink-jet decal paper (avialable at crafts stores or online). Cut out the portion of the decal you want to transfer and soak in water unitl the backing begins to peel away and the paper starts to curl. In a well-ventilated space, coat the wood with turpentine.

Personalized Vase: Step 2

While the turpentine is still wet, slide the decal onto the surface. When you're satisfied with placement, peel the backing away to reveal the translucent decal. Let it dry for several hours until the decal paper turns white again (the parts of the decal where there isn't any color or design will turn white, while the color of the design you are transferring will remain).